Search results for 'tag:Semicolons tag:Universities' matching tags 'Semicolons' and 'Universities'

Re: Being or Is

Sabyakgp — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:27:26 GMT

Thanks Barbara,

I seached for "comma splice" on the Internet after I saw your reply and consulted a book on punctuation (By Oxford University Press). What I understood is "comma splice" is a common error that most of the people often make.

The book said "It's not normally correct to join the clauses of a compund sentence without a conjunction (the so-called "comma splice").

For example,

*His was the last house,the road ended with him

Now this could be corrected as

His was the last house, and the road ended with him.

His was the last house; the road ended with him.

As you suggested this can also be corrected as

His was the last house, the road being ended with him (Please correct me if i am wrong).

His was the last house, the road ending with him (Please correct me if i am wrong).

So we have three ways to correct "comma splice" 1) put a conjunction 2) put semicolon 3) use -ing clause.

I have one more question.

In the below sentence.

Kim is an actor, Pat is a teacher, and Tim is an engineer.

In this case, can it be a case of "comma splice" and corrected as

Kim is an actor, and Pat is a teacher, and Tim is an engineer.

Could you please calrify my doubts.

Thanks,

Sabya

Re: Semicolon

Pinenut — Wed, 17 May 2006 18:44:03 GMT

Art2 wrote:
I am unsure if this sentence is using semicolons properly. Any tips you can give me would be appreciated.

While at University, my major was computer science. I am familiar with the software development process; from requirements gathering, through design, implementation, testing, documentation, and maintenance; working both individually and in a group setting.

Thank you!
Art

I don't think so. A semi-colon is used in a sentence instead of 'and' or a full stop. A colon is often used to introduce a list.

I am familiar with the software development process : requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, documentation, and maintenance. I can work both individually and in a group setting.

Semicolon

Art2 — Wed, 17 May 2006 18:05:11 GMT

I am unsure if this sentence is using semicolons properly. Any tips you can give me would be appreciated.

While at University, my major was computer science. I am familiar with the software development process; from requirements gathering, through design, implementation, testing, documentation, and maintenance; working both individually and in a group setting.

Thank you!
Art

Re: Conjunctive Adverb Sentence Combining

milky — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 08:05:59 GMT

Here's a starter:

http://grammar.uoregon.edu/conjunctions/conjunctive.html

And:

Conjunctive Adverbs

You can use a conjunctive adverb to join two clauses together. Some of the most common conjunctive adverbs are "also," "consequently," "finally," "furthermore," "hence," "however," "incidentally," "indeed," "instead," "likewise," "meanwhile," "nevertheless," "next," "nonetheless," "otherwise," "still," "then," "therefore," and "thus." A conjunctive adverb is not strong enough to join two independent clauses without the aid of a semicolon.

The highlighted words in the following sentences are conjunctive adverbs:

The government has cut university budgets; consequently, class sizes have been increased. He did not have all the ingredients the recipe called for; therefore, he decided to make something else. The report recommended several changes to the ways the corporation accounted for donations; furthermore, it suggested that a new auditor be appointed immediately. The crowd waited patiently for three hours; finally, the doors to the stadium were opened. Batman and Robin fruitlessly searched the building; indeed, the Joker had escaped through a secret door in the basement.

http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/adverbs.html

Re: Motivation letter - after some years I don't speak in English

anon1 — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 05:40:30 GMT

My name
Address

XXXXX Research XXXX Co-ordinators

XXXXX, 30th October 2004

Subject: Application for the Project XXXXXXXX.

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am applying for the Project XXXXXXXXX as a XXXXXX Researcher.

I graduated in Law at the University of XXX (Spain) in July 1999. From the beginning I decided to focus on the research in the area of criminal law.[1] My research work has been supported financially by various research fellowships of the University of XXX (Spain), XXXX (Spain), Government of XXXXX (Spain), XXX (Germany), and at the moment by XXXX (Spain). I have been [scientifically] working at the Universities of XXX (Spain), XXXX (Argentine) and XXXX (Germany) and I belong to a wide Spanish research group headed by professors in different Universities in Spain and promoted by several institutions (see next document).[2] This group maintains intensive[or EXtensive? - I think so] relations[HIPS] with other professors and researchers all over Europe; that is why I keep doing my research at the moment at the University of XXXX (Germany) aimed at obtaining my doctorate in Criminal Law under the direction of Prof. Dr. Mr. XXXX (University of XXXX) and Prof. Dr. Mr. XXXX (University of XXX). [3]

Since I finished my studies, I realized that I really wanted to keep researching and working focusing on international aspects and trying to overcome the limits of the national law, so I decided to write my thesis about the comparison of damages on situations of necessity, which would not be restricted to the Spanish criminal law.[4] I also wanted to gain more international experience. That is why I entered in the XXXX as researcher and in the XXX organization. Thanks to the last one[this is awkward], I have taken part in an International College about European Rights which final[ly?] was mainly the legal discussion about the possibility of a Rights Charter in Europe.[5] I also followed with interest the process and the aprobal of the Spanish organic law XX/2003 about the cooperation of Spain with the XXXX till it came into force. As I read about this Project, I saw here the possibility to get deeply involved with these subjects. [5]

It would be a great pleasure to participate in this project representing my country as a XXXX for the XXX national implementation legislation and to contribute to a constructive debating atmosphere.

How about....

I would greatly appreciate being considered as a key participant in Project Top Secret. Being a XXXX and representing my country would allow me to fulfill my personal objectives of blah blah blah. [And - keep or delete "and"] more importantly, with my education, experience and skills, I am confident that I would make a substantial and meaningful contribution to the project/team/effort (choose one).

Yours faithfully,

1) From the beginning.... OR At the outset.... I prefer the latter though I don't know why.

2) "scientifically working" sounds odd. I would just drop the "scientifically"

3) That sentence sounds odd...

A group keeps extensive relationship, and that is the reason why you keep doing research at blah blah? Doesn't make sense to me. In any event, try rewriting your sentence so that you don't have the semicolon followed by "that is why..."

4) That's a whopper of a sentence. Try breaking it down so that it is easier to digest. Technically there is nothing ungrammatical about it, but it is a monster. Business people like smaller, shorter sentences.

Also, rather than "Since I finished my studies..." try "After I finished my studies..."

5) Awkward sentence...try rewriting it.

6) I don't understand it, so I have difficulty. "aprobal of the Spanish organic law" completely looses me. This whole paragraph seems a little chaotic. I get the sense you want to write a thesis and gain international experience, and then you followed some stuff and now you want to get deeply involved in some other stuff. I am not sure what the main point of the paragraph is. It seems to skip from point to point. Maybe make 2 or 3 paragraphs with your themes clearly delineated?

Your English seems pretty good. It is hard to make sense of your essay because of the xxxx throughout. I trust you know what you are doing, so I have just given you some food for thought.

MountainHiker